Art of distilling hydrocarbon oils



Jan. 13, 1931. G, CASH 1,788,982

ART OF DISTILLING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed D80. 30, 1926 V Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES- PATENTIOFFFICE GENTBY CASE, OF WRITING, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STAN DABD- OIL COMPANY, OF

WRITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA ART OF DISTILLING HYDROCARIBON OILS Application filed December 30, 1926. Serial No. 157,970.

The present invention relates to improvements in methods'of distilling hydrocarbon oils and more particularly for the distillation of lubricating fractions for the removal of their lighter constituents and the formation of a heavier lubricating fraction as a residuum. It will be fully understood from the following description, illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which apparatus suitable for carrying the invention into effect is diagrammatically shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a furnace set: ting in whichis provided a suitable coil 2 heated by any suitable means. The outlet of the coil 2 leads into a separating chamber or drum 4, and between the coil and drum may advantageously be provided an enlarged conduit 3. Vapors pass from drum 4 through a vapor line 5 to the condenser 6. Condensate fiows from the condenser through line 7 to the receiver 8, the va or space of which may be connected by the hue 9 to the vacuum pump 10.

From the bottom of drum 4, a discharge line 11 leads to the suction side of a pump 12, which may suitably be a surge pump or other pump suitable for handling hot liquids. Theoutlet of the pump '12 is connected by pipe 11 ,to the upper portion of the column 13, which may be provided, for

7 example, with stripping plates 14 some of which may suitably be of the bubble plate type. A steam line 15 leads into thetower 13 and discharges through the perforated pipe 16 into the lower portion thereof. A discharge line 17 is provided for the removal of heavy oils from the tower or column 13. From the top of the column a vapor line 18 leads to a suitable point in coil 2, preferably an intermediate point at or near its end, before it enters the conduit 3. In operation, the oil to be distilled is forced, by any suitable supply means, such as a pump (not shown), into and through the pi e coil 2, in which it is heated to the desire temperature. Aspointed out hereinafter, steam and, in general somehydrocarbon vapors, are forced into the heated oil passing through the coil 2.from the pipe 18. The heated oil and steam pass out of the coil 2 into the enlarged conduit 3 which may be of any desired length, and into the vaporizing drum 4. The enlarged conduit 3 is of suflicient length to permit a substantial attainment of equilibrium between the heated oil and the vapors present at the pressure prevailing. In the chamber 4 the separation of vapors and unvaporized oil takes place, the vapors passing off through the pi e 5 through the condenser 6 from which tl ie resulting condensate flows into the receiver 8. From the chamber 4, the unvaporized oil is forced by pump 12 through line 11' into the tower or column 13. It descends the column- 13 in countercurrent to the rising steam entering through the pipe 15 and the perforated distributing pipe 16.. The steam completesthe.

removal of the light fractions from the oil,

leaving as a residue the desired viscous lu-' bricating fractions, which are substantially cooled by their contact with the steam. The steam and vapors carried thereby are forced by the pressure in the column 13 through the pipe 18 and are admitted into the stream of heated oilbefore it enters the enlarged conduit, and where the pressure is relatively low, for example, near the exit end of coil 2, and there aids materially the removal of the lighter fractions of the oil. The steam introduced by pipe 15 is under pressure so that suflicient pressure is maintained on column 13 to ensure flow of steam and vapors therefrom into the coil 2 by pipe 18. ,The pump 12 in the line 11 prevents vapors from the column 13 being forced back into the vaporizing chamber 4 by the ressure within the column 13 which is su cient to cause the steam and vapors to pass through the pipe 18 into the coil 2.

If desired, the separating chamber 4 may be operated under vacuum, the vacuum pump 10 being connected by the line 9 to the vapor space of the receiver 8 for this purpose.

The process is particularly adapted to the production of residues, such as. viscous luricating oils, from reduced crude oils or from distilIates.. Thus, the feed stock maysuitably be a paraifin distillate from midcontinent crude of 30 A. 'P. I., with a viscosity of 60 sec. Saybolt at 100 F. and a flash point of .about 150 to 175 F. It is brought in thecoil 2 to a temperature of r t'ively lower. The residue from the separating chamber 4 reaches the tower 13 at a 650 to 675 F., the steam and vapors from the tower 13 being introduced into the stream of oil before it enters the enlarged conduit 3, where the pressure is comparatemperature substantiall the same as that at which the oil leaves t e heating coil. In the tower steam is injected in an "amount to supply about condensed water on distillate condensed in the condenser 8. A

product is formed-of about 2324 Baum,

f with a viscosity of 320-325 sec. Saybolt at 100 F. and a flashpoint of about 41-5 to 420 F. The conditions of operation may be varied as desired, according to the character of feed stock, the product desired, and

the pressure under which the operation is '1: The method of distilling hydrocarbon.

oils, which comprises passing the .oil in a confined stream through a heating zone, discharging the stream of oil into an enlarged chamber,-wherein separation of vaporized products takes place, removing unvaporized oil from said chamber and forcing it into a stripping zone under an applied mechanical force, subjecting said oil to direct contact with steam in said stripping'zone thereby removing the lighter. constituents thereof and forcing the steam and vapors carried thereby into the stream of heated oil at an intermediate point in the heating zone, and under the pressure of the s trippin zone.

2. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils, which c'omprises passing a confined stream of oil'through a heated zone, passing the oi l together withsteam through an elongated enlarged conduit into an enlarged. chamber wherein separation into vaporized and unvaporized portions takes place, forcing unvaporized oil from said chamber in a mechanically interrupted stream to a stripping column, subjecting it to the stripping action of steam and supplying said steam and the vapors stripped from said unvaporized portions directly to the stream ofoil in saidheating zone.

. 3. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils, which comprises plassin a confined stream of oil through a eate zone into an enlarged chamber wherein separation into vaporized and unvaporized portions takes place, positively forcing under an applied mechanical pressure unvaporized oil from said chamber into a stripping colunm at .4. In apparatus for the distillation of oil, a heated conduit, a drum into which saidconduit discharges, a stripping tower a dis-- charge conduit from said drum leading to the stripping tower, force pump means in said discharge conduit for positively forcing unvaporized oil to the stripping tower and preventing back flow of steam and vapors therethrough, means for introducing steam into the lower portion of said stripping tower, and means for leading vapors from said stripping tower into the heating coil at an intermediate point thereof.

5. In apparatus for the distillation of oil, aheating conduit, means for applying heat thereto, an enlarged separating drum connected therewith, a stripping column, means for supplying steam thereto, means for conveymg steam and vapors from the upper part of the stripping column to the heating conduit, a conduit r conveying unvaporized oil from the separating chamber to the upper part of the stri ping column, and a pump in said conduit or unvaporized oil from sai chamber to said stripping column.

' 6. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils ,which comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a heating zone, discharging the heated stream of oil into an enlarged unheated chamber, wherein separation of vaporized products takes-place, removing unvaporized oil from said unheated chamber and forcing it into a stripping zone under an applied mechanical force, subjecting said unvaporized oil to direct contact with steam in said stripping zone thereby removing the lighter constituents thereof and forcing the steam and vapors carried thereby directly into the stream of oil at an intermediate point in the heating zone, and under the pressure of the stripping zone. 7. The method of distilling hydrocarbon ositively forcing oils, which comprises passing a confined stream of oil through a heated zone, passing the oil into an enlarged chamber wherein separation into vaporized and unvaporized portions takes place, removing unvaporized oil from said chamber and forcing it under an applied mechanical force into a stripping zone of higher pressure than the pressure in said chamber, subjecting said unvaporized oil in said zone to the stripping action of steam and supplying said steam and the stripped vapors to the stream of oil in the heated zone. a

8. The method of distilling hydrocarbon oils, which comprises passing a confined in the heated zone.

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